SAN MATEO COUNTY / Lobbyists' disclosure on agenda

Lobbyists paid to influence San Mateo's County Board of Supervisors would have to let the public know who hired them and why, under a proposal the board will consider today.

The ordinance, similar to those in San Francisco and elsewhere, would require lobbyists to register annually with the county, pay a $100 fee and fill out reports twice a year telling which supervisors they met with and what they discussed.

San Mateo County Supervisor Rich Gordon, author of the legislation, said he hopes the county will adopt common public disclosure practices that are like those already on the books in Washington, D.C., Sacramento, San Francisco and Santa Clara County.

"I personally believe that the public deserves transparency and needs to be able to see who has attempted to influence decisions," Gordon said.

The proposed ordinance is not an attempt to address any existing problems with lobbyists in the county, he said.

Only people whose jobs are to lobby or expressly influence the board would have to register, said Gordon, who estimated that the new ordinance would apply to about a dozen individuals who meet with board members.

"Many of our large businesses and corporations have government relations units. Those are the kind of folks that are regularly doing this and need to register," he said.